Page 114 of A Very Merry Enemy
“You absolutely are, sweetheart.” She pats my hand.
My dad clears his throat, but I can see the corner of his mouth twitching like he’s trying not to smile.
Sammy slides in next to me. He had to work today and told me he’d arrive a little later. “Hey, sis. What’s goin’ on?”
“Nothing,” I tell him.
“Mm-hmm,” my brother says, chuckling. He pulls a flask from inside his suit jacket and hands it to me. “You need to relax.”
I don’t deny it and lean into him, taking a few gulps.
More guests fill in around us. I recognize people from town dressed in their finest. The Jolly family sits in the front rows looking proud and emotional. Claire’s family and friends are sitting on the other side, looking elegant.
The energy in the tent shifts as the ceremony time draws closer. Conversations drop to hushed whispers. The photographers move into their positions with their cameras. Thequartet in the corner adjusts their instruments. And then the music changes.
Everyone turns toward the back of the tent as the procession begins.
My heart races as I watch the entrance, knowing Lucas will walk down that aisle any second now.
Wendy appears with her cousin Dean. They walk slowly down the aisle, smiling as they pass.
Hudson walks with Emma, who looks absolutely radiant even though she’s very pregnant. She’s moving slow, one hand on her belly, but she’s smiling widely. When they pass our row, Emma catches my eye and winks at me before taking a seat in the front row. No way she can stand on her feet for the entire ceremony. Hudson gives her a quick kiss before moving next to Dean.
Then Lucas appears with Bella on his arm.
My breath catches in my throat.
He looks even more gorgeous up close. The suit fits him perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and the strong lines of his body. His dark hair is styled but still has that slightly messy quality that makes me want to run my fingers through it. His jaw is set with determination, but there’s something vulnerable in his eyes as he scans the crowd, wearing that soft smile.
Bella leans close and whispers something to him as they start walking. Whatever she says makes his entire face flush red, and he tries to hold back a wide smile but fails. She says something else and he actually laughs out loud, shaking his head at her like he wants her to stop talking.
I wonder what she said to make him blush like that. Knowing her, it was probably something completely inappropriate and exactly what he needed to hear.
When they pass my row, Lucas’s eyes find mine again.
It’s so damn intense, butterflies flutter. It’s a good thing I’m not standing, or I might have gone weak in the knees. There’s heat in his look, and longing, and something that looksdangerously close to love. Lucas and Bella separate when they reach the arch. She moves to stand with her sister on the left side, and Lucas takes his position on the right, directly next to Jake and Hudson. The three of them have always been close.
Lucas smiles at Jake and places his hand on his shoulder and squeezes. When Lucas looks out into the crowd, his eyes immediately find mine.
My mom squeezes my hand again, and when I glance at her, she’s definitely crying now.
Colby and his best friend Evie walk down the aisle together, looking as cute as can be. It reminds me of when Lucas and I did that for my sister’s wedding. I turn to my mom.
“Where’s Tricia?” I ask.
“In the back,” Mom tells me. “They just got here.”
“Oh, okay,” I say, turning to search for her. I immediately find Bethany and see my sister sitting next to her.
Jake looks nervous and excited and so incredibly happy as he waits for his bride.
Hudson says something that makes Jake smile and nod. The gesture is so tender and brotherly that it makes my throat tight.
The music shifts to the bridal march, and everyone stands.
Claire appears at the back of the tent on her father’s arm, and she is absolutely breathtaking. Her dress is elegant and timeless, with an intricate lace detail on the bodice that catches the light from the chandeliers. Her cathedral-length veil trails behind her like something out of a fairy tale. Her face is glowing with happiness. She looks like a princess.
Jake’s entire face transforms when he sees his bride. His green eyes are definitely wet with tears, like he cannot believe his luck.
